Columns

Up Front Lahaina

November 5, 2009

... Well, HALLOWEEN came, and though it was a little wimpy, most participants and businesses said it was fine. The keiki parade took some criticism — too early, too hot, parents didn’t have enough time to get off work and get the kids ready. That’s what I heard, anyway...

... even the liquor inspectors left Lahaina Town around 7:30 p.m. and headed for Kihei. All those other towns are trying to pick up the slack, but they’ll never compare with Halloween in Lahaina...

... LAHAINATOWN ACTION COMMITTEE has called a Halloween meeting this Friday, Nov. 6, at the Pioneer Inn’s Snug Harbor Parlor at 9 a.m. All who attended the Fright Night meeting at MCC-Lahaina are asked to be there with their comments and suggestions, including the police, firefighters, Mayor’s Office, merchants and just plain regular folk. Remember, you no participate — you no complain!!...

... and the reception in the garden of Holy Innocents Church two Fridays ago was a lovely old-fashioned evening with GEORGE KAHUMOKU JR. playing music. The evening was a scenic byways reception honoring EDNA FARDEN BEKEART, who is spearheading the Na Hono-a-Piilani — a plan to establish an 18-mile heritage corridor from Honokowai to Kahakuloa along the six scared bays (hono) of Moi Piilani. The evening was organized by LOUISE ROCKETT, DEIDRE ROCKETT, CHYNA COLORADO and friends...

... and the next morning, a breakfast was held at the West Maui Senior Center to thank all the volunteers in the Lahaina Complex After School Tutoring Program. PAT and RICHARD ENDSLEY headed the event. These people do a fantastic job tutoring the children after school. And the entertainment was provided by — who else? — GEORGE KAHUMOKU JR. He hardly had time to get home from the night before when he started back to Lahaina the next morning. Mahalo nui loa, George!...

... and congratulations to CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in Lahaina this week. Laren and Edna and the Cheeseburgers gang, you did good!!!...

... and LAHAINA NEWS columnist NORM BEZANE is publishing a book called “VOICES OF MAUI.” Natives and newcomers, we’ll let you know when it’s on the stands...

... and across the ponds and over the mountains, the election in AFGHANISTAN has become a fiasco. By agreeing to a runoff, KARZAI virtually admitted the last election was a fraud. But by refusing to make any changes of election officials in the runoff, he didn’t leave runner-up ABDULLAH ABDULLAH much choice but to say “count me out.” This leaves President Obama still in a hold position on our additional troop involvement in the war. And Secretary of State HILLARY CLINTON certainly let PAKISTAN have an earful on their involvement, or lack thereof, in ousting the Taliban and OSAMA BIN LADEN from their territory...

... and back in our Lahaina Town, the winning poster for the 2010 official Lahaina Poster Contest is now available at VILLAGE GALLERY in Lahaina behind the Baldwin House on Dickenson Street. This year’s winner by Carleton Kinkade is just that — a WINNER!!...

Up Front Lahaina is a twice monthly feature. To protect his innocence, the writer chooses to remain anonymous. The views expressed in this column belong to the author, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Lahaina News staff and owners.